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The Baker Street Connection
When we started our business
back in 1998, we wanted a company name people would remember,
not the typical Computer or Data something. When one of our
customers pointed out that we were good at coming up with solutions, we
decided to work on a name tied to this theme. Sherlock Holmes, unequaled
at solving problems for his troubled clientele, immediately came to
mind. Since his clients often showed up at his doorstep at 221b Baker Street, we decided
that Baker Street would suit us perfectly. And, since we are a "resource"
for our customers' needs, our company name was now complete. Though
our clients are not as desperate as Holmes' clients tend to be, they often
need help finding the right solution at the right price - which happens
to be what we do best. And again, like Holmes, we always enjoy a happy and
satisfied client!
Who Was
Sherlock Holmes?
Why, of
course, Sherlock Holmes was the man who put the "detect" in detective
and practiced
forensic science and criminal profiling years ahead of the rest of the world.
Sherlock Holmes was also the first consulting detective
the world has known and the subject of a series of 60 memoirs chronicled by his
good friend and associate, Dr. John D. Watson. Residing
at 221b Baker Street in London, Holmes and Watson solved numerous cases between 1887 and 1927. During that time,
the duo made Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the man behind the detective
and his adventures, a very wealthy man. The first Sherlock Holmes mystery,
"A Study in Scarlet", was published in 1887 in Beeton's Christmas Annual.
After a time, Doyle tired of his hero and decided to end the series in "The
Final Problem". At the conclusion of this episode, Holmes and his arch-enemy,
Professor Moriarity fought hand-to-hand at Reichenbach Falls and
plummeted to their deaths. Later Doyle decided to pen a flashback
which became Sherlock Holmes' most famous case, "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
Then, under heavy pressure from his fans, Doyle finally resurrected Holmes in "The Empty
House" and continued on with the series. Holmes later stated to Watson,
"Well
then, about that chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it,
for the very simple reason that I never was in it."
But it was indeed the end of Professor Moriarity.
The last of the
60 Sherlock Holmes chronicles, "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place,"
appeared in March of 1927, yet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories have lived on.
If you haven't read Holmes, just pick up a copy of "The Complete Sherlock
Holmes" and you're sure
to become a Holmes fan!
The Curious
Incident
This famous
incident, from "Silver Blaze" is typical of Holmes' thought process. While
investigating the theft of an expensive race horse from its stable, Inspector Gregory of Scotland Yard asked Holmes if there
was any particular aspect of the crime that called for additional study.
Holmes replied, "Yes, the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime." Inspector
Gregory replied, "The dog did nothing in the night-time", after which
Holmes replied, "That was the curious incident!" The failure of the watch
dog to bark
when
Silver Blaze was stolen indicated that the dog must have known the thief, a crucial material fact which considerably reduced the number of suspects
and eventually helped Holmes solve the case and return Silver Blaze back
to its rightful owner.
Maxims
of Sherlock Holmes
There are certain notable quotes from Sherlock
Holmes that describe his beliefs. Although most deal with his investigative
techniques, some are a bit more philosophical in nature:
"It is an old maxim of mine that when
you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable,
must be the truth."
"It is a capital mistake to theorize
before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories,
instead of theories to suit facts."
"There is nothing more deceptive than
an obvious fact."
"I never make an exception. An exception
disproves the rule."
"You
see, but you do not observe."
"Crime is
common. Logic is rare. Therefore, it is upon the logic rather than upon
the crime that you should dwell."
"In solving
a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards."
"The more
bizarre a thing is, the less mysterious it proves to be."
"I never
guess. It is a shocking habit."
"Depend
upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace."
"It is my
business to know things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others
overlook."
"You can
never foretell what any one man will do, but you can say with precision
what an average number will be up to. Individuals vary, but percentages
remain constant."
"Where there
is no imagination, there is no horror."
Notable
Quotes of Sherlock Holmes
"Come,
Watson, come! The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!"
"Perhaps
when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather
encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand."
"I
suppose I am the only one in the world. I'm a consulting detective, if you
can understand what that is."
"Woman's
heart and mind are insoluble puzzles to the male. Murder might be condoned
or explained, and yet some smaller offense might rankle."
"There,
Watson, this infernal case has haunted me for ten days. I hereby banish
it completely from my presence."
"It
is a question of cubic capacity. A man with so large a brain must have something
in it. (about Moriarity)"
"And
yet the motives of women are so inscrutable . . . their most trivial action
may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a
hairpin or a curling-tongs."
"It
is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is
close upon you."
"Although
he (Lestrade) is absolutely devoid of reason, he is as tenacious as a bulldog
when he once understands what he has to do."
"According
to my experience it is not possible to reach the platform of a Metropolitan
train without exhibiting one's ticket."
"There
is an appalling directness about your questions, Watson. They come at me
like bullets."
"To
let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine.
It racks itself to pieces."
"You
have a grand gift of silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a
companion."
"The
Englishman is a patient creature, but at present his temper is a little
inflamed and it would be as well not to try him too far."
"Watson
here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic."
"You
know that a conjurer gets no credit when once he has explained his trick;
and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the
conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all."
A Problem in the Nighttime
Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson were on a well-deserved camping trip after solving a particularly
intense case. They set up their tent, enjoyed a good meal and a bottle of wine, then retired for the
night. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend, "Watson,
look up and tell me what you see."
Watson replied,
"I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes."
"And what
does that tell you, Watson?" Holmes asked.
Watson pondered
for a moment. "Well, Holmes, astronomically, it tells me that there are
millions of galaxies and therefore potentially billions of planets. Astrologically,
I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is
about a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful
and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorogically, I suspect
that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Why, Holmes, what does it tell
you?
Holmes
was silent for a moment, then spoke: "It tells me, Watson, that someone
has stolen our tent!"
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